May

Yesterday I got exhausted from itineraries, details, etc. I did manage to get a lot done though. I read over the minutes from the previous Community Board meeting so I could see if there was an issue in there. I think there is- there was a meeting on drug crime. I'm going to ask Joel or John (whichever one is there) if I can do the majority of my paper on that since there really weren't any major issues at the meeting that I attended. I also went through the mail and paid bills. I finished arranging travel plans to Hong Kong. That took forever, but eventually it worked out. I will be exhausted, but I'll get over it. Then I read "Huck Finn" for English. As I was reading, I realised that I read it before- 8th grade maybe? I also read a little more of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". I know there were other issues to deal with yesterday, but I can't remember them now. Just as well, they tired me out.

Today I'm going to head up to school early, make copies of my transcript and take them to some of the departments to get credit. I hope it's easier than what I went through the last time.

I have no idea what I'll take next semester besides science. Maybe math? Ugh, science AND math? I don't know about that...

Well, I failed the math test again, so I had to go over it again with an tutor and I can take it again next time. So I had all this extra time and I decided to go see "Town and Country". I thought it was going to be pretty stupid, but it had a few eccentric parts that made it somewhat enjoyable. The whole thing with Andi McDowell was odd, and I'm still not sure what to make of it.

English, boring as usual.

Urban Affairs- Joel tonight! Yum! It was an interesting class- a little discussion of city taxes and a little discussion on the public spaces packet we read. I talked to him about the Community Board situation and he told me I should try to go again on Thursday since John would be presenting something that night. While that would be fun, it's not worth leaving class early and trekking over to W. 106th St. to do that. He said that was fine. I wish I could talk to him longer- find out where in California he grew up, find out how much he participates in his own neighbourhood activities, find out if he's straight and single...

Tara wasn't in English today so I couldn't see if she wanted to do something tonight. So I went to Devine Bar, but it was packed so I went next door to another wine bar (can't remember the name). Had white port. I'd never heard of white port before. It was like a delicate dessert wine. I don't think I could drink more than one or two glasses. I was tired and hungry (and didn't want anything they had on their menu), so I went home after one drink.

Tomorrow is a busy day. Going to do the clothes shopping thing- ick, then come home and rest before seeing a show. I think I'll go see "Invention of Love" so I can try to figure out who I was sitting next to at O'Lunney's (of course, I want to see it anyway, regardless of that). I also want to stop by the visitor's centre to get a coupon for "Cabaret" so Eytan and I can see that when he's up here in June.

Wow, I didn't think I had the energy to type all that.

This morning I woke up singing "Sue Me" from "Guys and Dolls".

Dream- smoking Brie's pot at Paula and Harvey's house. What's with me a smoking pot in my dreams? Getting ready for Amsterdam?

I went to the World Trade Center TKTS line and met a nice couple from Australia who were standing behind me. They asked me if they should see "Contact" or "Proof" and I convniced them to see "Contact" since even though "Proof" is an incredible play, they can see a play like that anywhere and "Contact" is unique.

Then I went to Century 21 and had no luck in finding clothes. So I went to Soho and checked out the Armani Exchange. Had no luck there either. If I have energy, I'll run over to Bloomies later this afternoon although I don't think I'll have any luck there either. I don't know what I'm going to do about finding spring/summer nice shirts/blouses. All I can find are tank tops and I already have those. I need something I can wear as business attire. If anyone reading this has any suggestions, please let me know. If I don't find anything before May 11, Rebecca offered to go with me to some places in Boston. I doubt that would be a good idea though since I can be pretty nasty when trying to find clothes. I don't think she'll want to deal with me not wanting any of her suggestions, etc.

So now I need to do some work, maybe go to Bloomies, and then head over to Times Square for "Invention of Love"- 3rd row on the aisle of the centre section (can't get much better than that)!

Now the question is, what to pack. I know I need 2-3 business outfits and about 2 casual outfits, and I might be able to combine the business and casual. But what about shoes? I'd love it if I could wear my sandals for work, but I doubt I can do that. I'll have to ask the powers that be. And Hong Kong is going to be in monsoon season. I don't have a raincoat and I'm not very good at doing the umbrella thing. I'd love to just weat a hat, but wear a floppy hat with business clothes? I don't see why not, but you never see people doing that. But then I shouldn't let business clothes get wet. Maybe I can find a cheap, lightweight raincoat somewhere. And better yet, a cheap, lightweight raincoat that's small enough to not take up too much room in the suitcase. I hate details...

Now I will go read for a while before heading over to Times Square.

It's Spring and the tourists are taking over Times Square. It was almost impossible to walk back to the subway stop tonight. This was the shortest walk I've ever had, yet it took just as long as from the theatres that are further away. I heard one woman say about a man walking quickly past her, "Wow, look at him go." And then she said about me, "And look at her, New Yorkers really do walk fast." Yes, we do, and you're in our way... People were just really irritating me tonight. The woman in the theatre, everyone strolling through Times Square, the man sitting next to me on the train who slouched and took up way too much space and was almost on top of me when he could have easily sat up straight and taken up less room, and the man walking in front of me coming out of the subway stop who walked the speed of a turtle who had just run a marathon, the truck driver who whistled at me while I was walking across the street... Okay, enough complaining. I'm home now in my comfortable apartment away from all the people.

Just a quick entry before I head up to school.

The TV repair guy told me it would be $200 in repairs. Well, I had the receipt last week to show him that it was under warrantee, but I can't find it now. That figures. He told me that I could fax it to them when I find it. I really have know idea where it went. I looked EVERYWHERE! He told me it would take a week for the parts to come in and then I would hear from someone about scheduling an appointment. I really miss watching videos. And I wanted to check out that new show on Comedy Central, That's My Bush. And that show with Denis Leary. Oh well, I'm too busy anyway.

I got caught up on almost all my finances today- something I've been putting off for too long. I feel much better. I'll feel even better after I get the couple of checks I'm expecting.

Now I'm going to take the Math test (and hopefully pass it this time), give my transcript to the History department, see the English advisor about transfer credits, and give my transcript to the science department. We're supposedly getting our Urban Affairs paper back tonight. And I'm going to see if Tara wants to do something later tonight. If not, I'll come home and work.

Tomorrow I get to go try on my shoes and then head over to the PF to do some research. I hope it won't take more than 2 hours since they close at 5:00 and I can't get there until 3:00. If David's there, I'm going to see if he wants to see a movie later that night. If he's not there or doesn't want to see a movie, I'll come home and start my paper.

English- boring as usual. I talked to Tara about doing something tonight and she was busy interviewing potential roommates. But she said she would call this weekend. I'll believe it when I see (or hear) it. I got my "Pride and Prejudice" paper back. I got an A. Wow, I thought the papers on Shakespeare were better.

Urban Affairs- Joel tonight!! John was at that Community Board meeting. We did class evalutations at the end of class. I wish I could have done two- one for John and one for Joel. My answers would have been slightly different. Since he had to leave the room during that, he stood outside. On my way out, he asked me if I was going to go heckle John at the meeting. I told him I was tired and needed to go home. Then I started to leave but went back and asked him where he grew up in California. He asked how I knew where he grew up, and I said I was psychic and also he mentioned it in class the other day. He grew up in Berkeley. Wow. He asked if I knew the area. I told him I did. He asked where I was from. I told him. Then he asked what I did for a living. I told him. Then I asked him how long he had been in New York. He said he went to college here and then moved back here 4 years ago (so how old is he? Maybe he went to grad school out in CA and then moved back here. So he could be 28-32?). I asked him which he liked better and he said, New York, for now. Then he asked me where I liked better. I told him, New York, for now. Then I told him I had to get home. Geez, just thinking about the conversation makes me feel giddy. This is ridiculous. I don't know why I just wrote the whole conversation here. I feel so silly. I don't think I've had a crush on someone since 1989 when I performed with the Maryland Ballet and had a crush on John DePue. Oh, maybe that's not true. There must have been others. Hopefully he'll be doing the walking tour on Monday. I'm assuming they'll both do all three but maybe not. Maybe I should go on Saturday just in case? Oh, also meeting at City Hall Park on Saturday morning is a group for legalising marajuana. Hope people don't get mixed up in their groups. When someone in the class mentioned this, Joel said, "Well, head down to the park and pick which group you want to join."

Marcell called tonight. I got to tell her all my travel news. Every time I tell someone I get excitied. It's really soon!! Oh, Neil gave me a phone number to call about the statis of my passport which was much more helpful than the number I had which disconnected me twice. They were extremely helpful and told me it was mailed out on Tuesday. What a relief. Thanks Neil. Anyway, I might be getting together with Marcell next week. What a change from the first time I talked to her. Maybe she feels more relaxed now that she's in a new job situation. Now she has more time and can plan social activities (at least plan them slightly better than before). It would be nice to have more social activities. I hope next week works.

I found the receipt for the TV. Now I have to remember to fax it to the repair company. Maybe I'll take it with me tomorrow and find somewhere to fax it. I'm sure the PF has a fax machine. Actually, I'm not so sure. They might not. If not, I'll take it to Kinkos on the way home.

Hoof-and-Mouth disease. The acronym being HAM. Who came up with this name? It sounds so ridiculous.

dream- staying at Mike Cunningham's old house with Paula and Harvey. Harvey had just picked up two collections and Mike got one. Then Jeff called at 10:30 AM. He was going to be in Baltimore for a few hours and wanted to see me. So I stayed behind when Paula and Harvey went back to New York. I had a rental car at their house and somehow I managed to go get it. Then there was something about wandering around a small town and running into this musician at coffee shops, music stores, and on the street. He was a typical hippy-like guy. Then I realised it was Josh that had called and wanted to see me, but I couldn't remember where we were supposed to meet and I didn't know how to get a hold of him. So I got out of bed and it turned out that I was at Sylvia's. I went in the kitchen to have breakfast and realised it was getting late- the clock said 9:25 (a half an hour earlier than it had been at Mike's). Then I woke up. I had that last part of the dream as my alarm was going off and I kept hitting snooze and going back to sleep to my dream. Fortunately, it was not as late in real life as it was in my dream. I have a lot to do this morning before I go out.

Does something want me to see the ABT? The New York Times email newsletter had a listing of their shows and said you could sign up for their newsletter to win a pair of tickets. Then ETour had the ABT's web site come up first when I opened my browser. ETour is my start page so I can see a new web site every time I open my browser. I do love ETour. Anyway, I don't like ballet. I don't think I do anyway. I haven't seen anything besides The Nutcracker in ages. The only reason I would go is if I became friends with the wealthy society here and went with them.

Yesterday I woke up singing a beautiful Murmurs song (I think it's called "Mission"). I had it in my head the rest of the day. This morning I woke up singing that Matchbox 20 song again (the one about the breathing room). Now I have "Do You Believe in Magic" in my head. I hope I don't have that song stuck in my head the rest of the day.

I was thinking about going to see "Hair" at City Centre Encores this weekend, but they don't have any orchestra seats (big surprise), tickets are too expensive for the Grand Tier, and any higher than that isn't worth it. Probably just as well anyway, I don't need to see a show like that now.

After an unsuccessful attempt to help Eytan with the web site, I went to try on my shoes. They didn't fit and he told me to come back on Tuesday. WHEN?!?!?! I don't really have time. Guess I'll have to make time. Then I went to the PF and did some research. It was kind of fun listening to the gossip about Wagshal's issues. I've been home for 4 hours and it feels like I've been home for less than half of that. Where does the time go?

I'm definitely having a new month of sleeping patterns. This month is, lay in bed thinking about everything under the sun and not fall asleep for hours, or lay there for an hour or two and then get up and do something in hopes that repose will come soon. I didn't want to get up this morning, but since it wasn't raining I figured I really should do the walking tour.

So I went. It was short but good. There were only 6 other people. Joel looked cute in a t-shirt and jeans but definitely looks much better in a suit. I think most men do.

On the train home, there was a father with his two young children. The father was very good at answering the son's questions. I hope I can be as helpful when my kids ask questions like those. Also on the trains, I've been seeing these funny ads for the National Peanut Board. Didn't even know there was such thing. Just looked at their web site and learned that they are doing this mega-traveling-festival thing. They just had a week in New York. Anyway, the ads- some of them are stupid but some are funny like, "Studies show people live longer from eating peanuts than not eating" and "You can trace us all the way back to the Legume family". Before coming home, I went food shopping.

Now I'm home and the afternoon is flying by. I'm trying to work, work on my paper, find the name of the stupid building that's the answer to one of four questions we have to answer to get full credit for the walking tour, and clean up the apartment.

I'm feeling rather melancholy right now. Listening to show tunes and acpella songs makes me miss singing. Listening to melancholy music too. Wish I had someone to share the day with. I want to watch a video tonight. But I'm not watching a movie without sound. And I don't want to rent a silent movie. I want to feed this mood but watching a sappy romantic comedy. I hate when I get like this. Fortunately, it doesn't happen that often. I still don't know what to do with my mood though. I guess I could go read. I don't have any sappy romantic type books, but I'll have to make do with what I have. At least it'll get my mind off of my own life. Not that my life is bad, in fact, it's quite the opposite. I just happen to be feeling melancholy for some reason.

I didn't wind up doing much last night. I goofed off online for a while (something I haven't done in a long time). I organised my MP3s into neat little categories. That was fun. I thought about ways to see Joel after the semester is over. I want to see if I can talk to him at some point about urban affairs. I am very interested in the subject and would love to know more. Now I just need to find a way to ask him if he has any time to talk about whatever questions I manage to come up with. I talked to Eytan for a few hours. That passed the time. And I tried to work some more on my paper.

Today I researched a subject for my paper. I'm going to do it on the Columbia University private K-8 school issue. It's convenient since it was such a hot issue with Community Board 7, so I should be able to write 5 pages about it. For a break, I went to get a few things at Duane Reade. Now I need to get back to the paper.

I forgot to mention that on Friday I went to the art gallery down the street from me (didn't find anything) and ran into the bartender at Pig N' Whistle. He recognised me and I finally recognised him since the gallery is right next to the bar so I figured out who he was. It reminded me that I haven't been there in ages. Maybe I'll go tomorrow night after my final attempt at a clothes shopping. I'll need a drink- either to calm my frustration from not finding anything or to celebrate a purchase.

My paper is exactly 5 pages!

Don't really have much to say today. Oh, I was looking at my entry from a year ago yesterday and read that I was trying to figure out where to live. I definitely think I made the right decision. I can't imagine a place where I'd be happier.

I got my passport. They sure put a lot of official stuff all over the front to make it hard to duplicate or fake. I guess that's new. My old one didn't have all that. I guess they do that with all official documents and IDs now. So on my passport, I have pretty wavy blue lines all across my face.

I woke up singing "Written in the Stars" from "Aida". I'm still singing it.

So much for going to bed early last night. I read until 1:00 and couldn't fall asleep for a few hours after that. The longer I waited for sleep, the more awake I became. Oh well, I'm wide awake this morning.

I was going to try on my shoes today but I have a lot to do here before I head up to school earlier than usual (since I have to get the results of the history credit evaluation, print out my paper, and go to the library to check some statistics for the paper). So I guess I'll go do the shoe thing tomorrow after the space auction and before I go to The New School. I'm also trying to decide on whether or not I should go to my Community Board meeting tomorrow night. I want to go, but I have all those other things to do tomorrow. It's a lot of running around (and jumping on and off the 6 train). I think I'll leave it up in the air. If I feel like jumping on and off the 6 train 2 more times after I finish up at The New School, then I'll go. I hope the auction session doesn't run longer than 4 hours and I hope it's not too crowded.

The History credit was given, but barely. The woman looked to see why mine wasn't done, and then she said, "Oh yeah, I didn't understand where you got the course description." I told her I printed it from the online catalogue and she said, "Well, you could have copied that from anywhere." I told her that I showed what I did to the guy I handed it to and he said that was fine. She rolled her eyes and begrudgingly signed the damn thing. So now I just have Dance left and I get to do that on Thursday. I'm also going to take a copy of my unofficial Scottsdale transcript to admissions and find out why they did not accept the modern drama course.

English- not quite as boring as usual. In the last 5 minutes of class, she asked us how we felt about the use of the word "nigger" in "Huck Finn". It started to get interesting when Mr. Livingston (a guy in the class) said that he wanted to ban the book. She said we would finish the discussion next class. Personally, I don't think the word meant the same then as it does now. This was 1840, the world was a different place. I'm not saying that slavery was a good idea then, I'm just saying that was the state of things and so you can't judge the wording as it if it was used in modern times. Besides, Twain was against slavery. The main theme of the book is ridiculing and speaking against southern society.

Urban Affairs- John tonight. I may not like him as a teacher, but at least I can get a better sense of what will be tested. It's a more organised class- with headings, things written on the board, and definite subjects. So it's easier to take notes which will mean it will be easier to study. I still can't stand him though as a teacher. As a person, he seems rather interesting. He has a good sense of humour and he knows a lot about politics, government, etc. I wouldn't mind having some coffee and conversation with him as well. But I'm certainly not going to go out of my way for that!

Tomorrow is a busy day. The space auction is in the morning, then I'm having lunch with a client, then I hope to go try on my shoes, and then I'll attend my Community Board meeting. I need to pick up my dry cleaning but that will have to wait until Thursday morning.

Just got a strange song in my head. A song from "The Banished Bride"- the operetta I did at Sandy Spring.

Woke up singing "One Song Glory" from "Rent". I could even hear the leading intro of bass notes as if it were live. Woke up feeling surprisingly awake (although I was a little confused when my alarm went off the first time). Then why am I drinking a coffee drink? Just to be safe, I guess. I have to be very alert this morning- for the auction and potential client (well, he is a client, just don't have the actual stuff yet).

So here's the plan for today... auction, hopefully lunch with client, hopefully try on shoes, maybe a drink at Brews before meeting, Community Board meeting, come home exhausted.

I guess I should wish my grandfather a happy birthday. Happy birthday Matt. I wonder when Matt Bennett's, Brian's friend from law school, birthday is. He looks like his birthday could be in early May too. I'll have to remember to ask him the next time I run into him. That should be the next time I'm in Baltimore. I always seem to run into him everywhere- One World Cafe, Xandos, Eytan ran into him a few times at Thai Riche and Silk Road Cafe. He is everywhere!

Dream- I only remember the fuzzy details- I was staying at Eytan's but his' place looked different, I kept asking him if it had changed but he didn't know what I was talking about, George and Bill were at the office when I was there during the day, then I had one more night at Eytan's, in the morning he was mad at me for keeping him up late, he went to take a shower since he had 45 minutes to report for work in the parking lot, I went outside for a few minutes and it turned out that Eytan lived in the Penthouse on Allegheny (so he didn't have far to go for work at all), there was that guy walking his dog Max (he really lives in the Penthouse and has a dog named Max), something was evil about him but I couldn't figure out what, I asked Eytan if he knew what was evil about the man with Max and he said everyone was trying to figure that out before it was too late, so I was trying to figure it out but I think he caught onto me, I ran back inside to Eytan's glad that I was leaving that morning, I was looking for a towel so I could take a shower but Eytan only had used wet towels, I finally found one that was dry but I dropped it in the toilet somehow, I started looking in my suitcase for a towel just to see if I had one but I didn't, so I got dressed in a 70's style bathing suit, matching pants, and a t-shirt (where did I come up with that outfit?) and went back outside, that's all I remember.

Woke up singing "Out Tonight" from "Rent". What's with "Rent" recently? Maybe because the other night, Tara, the girl in my English class, mentioned that she was going to see it when he friend came to visit. I think the dog walker guy was in my dream because of those stupid dog owners at the meeting last night. It's rare that my dream stems from something that actually happened during the day. Sometimes I have people that I saw during the day or will be seeing shortly in my dreams though. And I always have the same people in my dreams. And some people have never been in my dreams. I love my dreams (although last night's was a little boring).

Now I'm singing some Phish song- "My friend, my friend he's got a knife. My friend, my friend he's got a wife." Or something like that. Where did that come from?

Yesterday when I was walking down the street from my apartment to the subway in the morning, I had sick thoughts going through my head. Then I started wondering what was going through the minds of the people I was passing. What do people think about when they're walking down the street? The people they are passing? What they are going to do when they get to their destination? The fight they had with their lover that morning? What they should have for lunch? Whoever is reading this, let me know what you were thinking about when you were walking somewhere this morning.

I decided to forget about the shoes until I get back from Boston. I don't feel like running down there this morning- too much to do. So I'll just finish up some things here, go to the bank and deposit some money, pick up the dry cleaning, come back here and get ready to head up to school for a long day there. I need to have the meeting with the Dance department, then go print out my paper and print out a copy of my Scottsdale transcript, go to admissions and give them the credit evalutions plus show them my Scottsdale transcript to see why they did not put the Modern Drama class on my Hunter transcript, go to the Math workshop (which is going to be impossible- I looked at the next unit and I've never seen anything like it before- I was reading the tutorial and I didn't understand a word of it), go to English, and then Urban Affairs. I was going to stick around and talk to Joel, but I have to get home to tie up some ends so I can go away for a few days and then pack.

I'm looking forward to Boston. Friday night Rebecca and I are going to a Red Sox game. We have great seats (of course, not as good as the ones Eytan and I had at the Orioles game last summer- you can't beat first row next to the dug out). Saturday we'll go to the gym in the morning and then maybe go shoe and clothes shopping for an hour or two. Rebecca needs shoes and I need clothes. Either Saturday or Sunday we're going to Walden Pond. I'm excited, I've never been there. Hopefully we can stop by Brandeis University on the way since the client designed some of those buildings and wants me to look at them (I don't want to get on his bad side). If not, I'll just look at some pictures of the buildings and make something up to tell him. I can just say that they're beautiful and functional and that I'm very impressed. I wouldn't know what else to say even if I do see the buildings in person. I want to go to the Kennedy Museum when I'm there, but if I don't get to do that, there's always next time. It's not like I'm not going to get back to Boston before the end of the year. I'd like to go in the fall to see the beautiful New England fall foliage. Sunday, Kristin is coming back from Latvia. If she gets back in time, we'll go to dinner at Upstairs at the Pudding and then to karaoke. If she doesn't get back in time, I guess we'll just go to karaoke. That's fine with me. If we're at the restaurant until 10:00, that doesn't leave much time for karaoke. Monday I'll have the day to myself since I couldn't get a cheap flight unless I didn't leave Boston until the evening. So my flight home is at 7:00. I'll probably wander around Harvard Square and read at the COOP. I love that area.

I just talked to Eytan which made me slightly happy for some reason. I made myself a good drink (something I do probably twice a year- I'm not good at drinking alone) and that's making me slightly happy. I got to see Joel for 2 minutes tonight at class, before I left early- that made me happy. Anyway, I'm happy! That's a good thing!

Today I finished all the credit transfer evaluations. I got credit for 2 English classes, two Humanities classes, and a History class. So now for distribution requirements, all I have left is 4 Math classes (since I have to take 3 before I can take the one I need), one year of science, 1 Humanities, and 1 Social Science. Then I need 4 pluralism and diversity classes. In the fall, if I can get the classes I want, I plan to do the Math workshop since I'm nowhere near finished (it would have been impossible to finish), History of Japan- a pluralism and diversity class which sounds fascinating to me, and Music History- this counts for my last Humanities plus a pluralism and diversity requirement (that means everyone will want it and there's a slim chance of me getting in the class, but maybe I'll get lucky.

I did the Math workshop. The unit that seemed impossible Tuesday wasn't any easier today. I didn't bother finishing the tutorial. I decided to take the test just to see if I could pass it and move on without spending a lot of time on it. If it seemed like something I would need for the upcoming units, I would have tried harder, but it didn't seem like anything I would need again. If I didn't pass, I was going to look for a tutor to help me. Well, I passed it without getting ANY wrong! How?!?!?!?!?! Who cares? The next units were on factoring which I happen to understand and can do easily. So I did two more units and then decided to leave and accomplish other important things.

I went to print out my paper and print out an unofficial copy of my Scottsdale transcript plus a copy of the course description of the Modern Drama class. I went to admissions and gave them the transcript evaluation slips. They said they would be processed in around 3 weeks. Fortunately, I don't need any of those classes approved to register for any other classes. Then I asked them about the Modern Drama class and that woman sent me to another woman. There were 5 people working in the admissions office and none of them were doing anything. No wonder, they make the students do everything themselves. I spent a total of 6 hours dealing with this crap. So she didn't say anything about the problem but she fixed it right away and gave me an updated copy of the transcript. So I took it to the English department. Luckily I got there early. I only had to wait an hour and 15 minutes to see him. They really need help in this advisor/credit/organisation thing at this school. Anyway, the English advisor agreed! He asked me about the class and then found a class there that would be an approximate equivelent. Too bad I don't need another English course- I'd love to take a class from him.

English- that woman PISSES ME OFF!!! And everyone else in the class as well. We all asked her about the final and she said, "What does it matter?" She then told us that the final grade would be lumped with the other writing assignments and that was only 35% of our grade, the other 65% was class participation. Well, her 4 favourites will get A's. The rest of us, who knows? She didn't even know who I was until 2 weeks ago. She has no memory and I have no idea if she writes down who participates. None of us volunteer information. She doesn't even really give us a chance. Half her questions are retorical. She'll finally ask a question where she expects and answer and when no one answers, she looks at her list and calls on someone. 90% of the time, they don't know the answer. I really just don't care anymore. If I get a C, I really don't care. I'd love a B, but it's just one grade for one class. I know I did okay and I don't care if it looks bad on a transcript.

Urban Affairs- we turned in our papers (I was really happy with mine) and got our Census papers back. I think a TA graded it since it was girly handwriting and it certainly didn't look like John or Joel's. It had comments all over the place. Whoever graded it, wrote a paper on my paper. Seriously, the back of one of the pages was filled with a comment on how I did the labour statistics wrong. I did other things slightly wrong as well. I had some grammatical errors. It was too short. I got an A-!!! Huh? I thought it was a C paper, or maybe a B- if they wanted to be nice. I guess this person was SUPER nice! Cool! So I should get an A in this class. Anyway, the person left a note saying that I could see them if I wanted to go over the comments. First of all, I don't know who you are. Secondly, I got an A-, who cares? Anyway, John left after he collected the papers and Joel taught. He was going over things that people did wrong on the papers. That's cool, but there are comments on the papers saying what we did wrong. I thought that was enough. So even though I wanted to be there for the article discussions and just because Joel was teaching, I have a hundred things to do before leaving tomorrow, so I came home.

Tuesday is the last day of classes. That means I have to talk to Joel Tuesday night. He should be there, and not John. If John is there, I don't know what I'll do. I guess I could talk to him after the final, but that's kind of hard to do. Wait around until everyone is finished? And try to talk to him alone and not John? They'll be leaving together. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Tuesday.

I was supposed to pick up the dry cleaning and go to the bank today. Whoops, I forgot. So I'll go tomorrow morning before I leave. Fortunately my flight isn't super early in the morning. I also want to pick up the apartment a little. I have emtpy bottles of iced tea all over the place, trash on the table, and clothes on the floor. What a mess! I also need to pack. I'll do that in the morning. Right now I need to finish a project for an investment company. That's a priority.

Okay, my little fingers can't type anymore. I just typed all this in 10 minutes. I really didn't think I had the patience to type all that. I'm hyper!

One more thing- I'm feeling mellow, hyper, numb, happy, content, a good version of melancholy (I can't explain this, would anyone know what I mean?)... Every song is effecting me in a good way. And making me more of all these moods. I love Broadway's "Aida" much more than I want to. I had "The Gods Love Nubia" in my head today at school. Okay, enough writing.

Whoops, I just checked my email and Rebecca send one saying I should call her when I get into Boston. I don't have her work number. I guess I'll call her now to get that. Hope she doesn't mind me calling this late...

Oh, and I got an email from Allyson Howard today. What a joyous, friend-filled day.

And I'm the kind of mood where I want to write something about every song that I'm listening to. Right now I'm listening to a nice Van Morrison song- "Domino", I think it's called.

And Marvin Gaye, "Let's Get it On". Oh, how I love this song! It's perfect!

Oh boy, the acapella version of Dave Matthew's "Say Goodbye". God, that woman has the sexiest voice I've ever heard (except the singer for that wonderful Blacksburg band, Icarus). My copy of their tape broke, I think. How I wish I could find another copy of it. I doubt there are any around anymore. I could ask Josh to keep a lookout in the used bins at the record stores down there. I wonder what she's doing now? I hope she's still singing.

I really want to be in bed right now but I'm not finished things yet. And I can't stop writing this damn entry. I don't think I've been like this since I left Phoenix.

I finished my project last night and actually fell asleep before 3:00 AM. This morning I woke up, packed, went to the bank and dry cleaners, and now I'm all set to leave. And I have an hour before I have to leave. I love extra time. It makes me feel good.

I had my first dream with Joel in it last night. He was barely in it. Just as we started to talk, I woke up. I went back to sleep to try and continue the dream, but it didn't work. Oh well, maybe tonight...

I hope it's not too cold and rainy in Boston. I packed a light jacket and a long sleeved shirt. I guess I could borrow something from Rebecca...

Not much else to say today.

I didn't have the time to write journal entries while I was away, so I just jotted down the important stuff. This was my weekend in Boston:

There was an accident on the way to the airport. We were right at the beginning of it and could see them cutting people out of their cars (including a Jag). Fortunately, it didn't take as long as it could have in other areas. I got to the airport on time.

I really like the US Air Shuttle area. It has cubicle desks, I think computers that are available for use, complimentary magazines (tons of them), and it was quiet when I was there which was nice. While waiting for my plane, I read "New York Magazine". There was a story on Al Gore- he should have gotten 25,000 more votes, enough to win the election. I think they should spend more energy focusing on what Bush is doing- focus on the present, not the past.

The flight was early! It wasn't early enough for me to go do something before meeting Rebecca, so I just went to Alewife and continued reading my magazine. On the shuttle bus from the airport to the T stop, there was a man carrying a guitar who was with his mother. They were slower than I was so I lost track of them. Then as I was sitting at Alewife, they showed up. How odd. Then they left with someone driving a red BMW. While sitting at Alewife, I had songs from "Side Show" in my head.

Rebecca picked me up around 5:00 and we went to her apartment for a quick dinner before the game. In general, the game was good, but at the end, the game just stopped dead and was disappointing. O'Leary flied into a double play to shortstop, and Everett got out at third to end the game. It should have ended differently. Oh well, it was still fun to be at Fenway. I love that ballpark! Our seats were good and we moved up even closer for the last 2 innings.

After, we tried to go to a piano guy sing-a-long thing. We finally found it and it was ending. Or maybe it wasn't quite ending, but they stopped serving drinks. This was at 11:15! Boston closes down so early. So we finally found somewhere else to go. We had time for one drink before we had to get back to the T before that shut down. We just made it. They didn't make us buy a token, they just said they were closing and just to go through. We got to Somerville at 12:45 and I was still wired. We tried to go to a few places, but everywhere in Somerville closes at 1:00. So we went to Cambridge to Joe Sent Me, but they were closed as well. Finally we wound up at Christopher's. Rebecca was tired but I wasn't. We went back to her apartment to get me a set of keys and she dropped me off at Dunkin Donuts (the only place open). I didn't stay long though. I had to pee and they didn't have a bathroom. There wasn't anywhere nearby that was open and had a bathroom. So I just caught a cab (easy, there was one on the way to the phone booth where I was going to call for a cab) back to her apartment. It took me forever to fall asleep.

Saturday I woke up early. It was HOT!! WE stopped so I could buy some sandals (I didn't bring mine since I thought it would be too cold). I needed some new ones anyway- my other ones are about to fall apart. Then we took the scenic route to Walden Pond. I'd never been there. It was nice, but I was hot in my jeans and that irritated me. While we were there, there was a man playing Homer, the bard, and told the story of "The Odessey". He was really good, but neither of us wanted to stay for the whole thing. I'd never seen a storyteller before. I wouldn't mind doing something like that again.

Then we went to the Concord museum. I liked the photographs of New England and the historical documents, but there was too much of furniture and trinkets and the like (liked the weapons though!). We stayed there for about an hour and then headed for dinner.

We had dinner at Vinny Testa's. It was a family place with huge portions of decent food and a good wine list. It's amazing how no one dresses up in Boston. Actually, that was fortunately for us since we didn't have time to go home and change out of our t-shirts and jeans.

After dinner, we went to Newton to see "1776". Rebecca liked it a lot more than I did. I had a few problems. First of all, I didn't like the writing too much. It seemed like it couldn't decide whether or not it wanted to be a musical. There was a 35 minute scene with no music. There are only 12 songs. The end of the first act had a beautiful, sad song. I liked the song but didn't like how it fit in. First of all, it was done by a minor character (that was, in fact, all he did). It was strange to end an act with a minor character. Also, it didn't add anything to the storyline. It was completely on a different subject. So you left the first act with something other than the story of the show in mind. Not something you'd want to rush back to for Act II. Also, the performers weren't anything special. The seats were flat on the floor, no angle. We were in the 8th row and it was very hard to see- especially since I had a HUGE man in front of me. There was one thing that redeemed the show for me. The song "Molassas to Rum" sung by Rutledge of South Carolina. The song was intense and the actor portraying Rutledge did it justice. He was wonderful! That song alone made the trip worth it!

We went back to Somerville and I had a few drinks at Rudy's while Rebecca tried to stay awake. I told her she could go home, since I had keys, but she wanted to stay.

Sunday I woke up early again. I woke up singing "Out Tonight" from "Rent". Here we go again.

That morning we did The Waterfront Tour with Boston by Foot. Some of it was interesting. The woman who led the tour seemed to know more about architecture than anything else. She knew a lot of names I'd never heard of.

After the tour, we had lunch at Faneuil Hall. I wanted to do the Boston Underground Tour at 2:00, so we went to Feline's Basement briefly so I could try to find some clothes. I didn't find anything dressy, but I did find a little casual shirt that will come in handy. We also went to a shoe store so Rebecca could buy some sneakers.

The Underground Tour was okay. I thought we would be doing some things that you normally couldn't do. Like walk through old tunnels or something. That's what the brochure made it sound like. We learned a little about the Big Dig, that was somewhat interesting. She told us that you can do a tour of the Big Dig where you can actually go down there and see what's happening. I wish I had time to do that. Well, they'll be working on it for a few more years still, so maybe they'll still be doing that tour the next time I'm there. Anyway, after the Big Dig stuff, we took the subway while learning about the history. I learned that the original gree line is not a subway but an underground trolly (it doesn't ride on the third rail). I also learned that Boston's original subway lines were owned by different people in the beginning, like New York. That was good to know. I asked Rebecca that question the other night, and she thought they were always all part of the same thing. Anyway, the tour was a let down. The whole point of going underground was to ride the subway (we were downtown so we could take 3 different lines quickly). Well, I've been on the subway, I didn't need to get on and off the different lines and wait for a while at each stop because it was Sunday and the trains run less frequently. Oh well.

After the tour, I made Rebecca go home and work (since she has a big deadline) and I went to Beantown Pub to watch the end of the Sox. By the top of the 10th inning, I had to head back to Rebecca's. So I watched until the middle of the 10th to make sure Rod Beck didn't let Oakland score, and then ran to the T. It took a while for a train to come, but I walked from the T stop back to Rebecca's in record time and made it back with time to spare. We changed into nicer clothes and then headed to the airport to meet Kristin.

Kristin's plane was early which was nice. And it took no time at all for her to get through customs (hope I'm as lucky next month, but I doubt it). We stopped at her house so she could drop off her things and change, and then we went to dinner.

We had dinner at Upstairs at the Pudding. I love that place! I hope it's as nice after they move to their new location. Harvard is kicking them out of their cute current location. If people here complain about Columbia taking over the neighbourhood, they should look just at Harvard Square and they'll feel much better. Dinner was good, dessert was better (an odd thing for me to say), and the wine was lovely (we had an Alsace Pinot Gris). We were going to go to karaoke at Hennessey's, but it was too later by the time we finished dinner, so we just went to Gredel's instead. That's a nice place to kick back and relax with a few cold beverages.

I went back with Rebecca that night since it was Sunday and things close earlier then. I really don't like the fact that Boston closes down so early. I like New York MUCH better.

Sunday wasn't as hot as Saturday, but it was still warm enough for sandals (after noon, anyway). And it only rained for a few minutes on Saturday night. The weather was completely different from what they said it was going to be. So, once again, I didn't have the proper attire.

All day Sunday I was singing songs from musicals. A few from "Les Mis", "I Could Have Danced All Night" from "My Fair Lady" and a few selections from "Side Show".

Monday I woke up early again. All weekend I was waking up around 6:00 or 7:00 and going to bed around 3:00 or 4:00. And I was wired all day. I love that!

I went to the COOP to read some travel books. Why is it that when a place gives you cream cheese with your bagel, if it comes automatically, they give you a ton and if you have to pay for it separately, they give you a miniscule amount? Oh well. After I left there, I went to see "One Night at McCool's". Not great, but it was something to do that didn't require too much effort. For some reason, I wasn't feeling like making an effort to do anything.

I got to the airport early, but since it cost $275 to change to an earlier flight, I just sat at Legal Seafood and read "Fortune" magazine until the next flight. We left a little late but still got in on time (I don't know why they allow an hour and a half for a 30 minute flight. I know they always say it will be long than it is to make up for delays, but that's super early. Do the airports use the real time or the time it says the flight will get in to arrange their arrivals? If it's the time it says the flight will get in, how do they know which gates to send them to? Oh well. Anyway, there was NO traffic on the way home. I got home in 20 minutes!

On Saturday I woke up with a pain in my mouth. I assumed I bit the inside of my cheek while I was sleeping. It got worse on Sunday and Monday it hurt to eat. Then when I got to the airport, my left lymph node area got swollen. It's still swollen now. Last night, the pain made me tired. If it doesn't go away in a few days, I should do something about it. I don't know where though...

Even though I was in pain and tired, I still spent hours and hours when I got home taking care of all the emails and things I received while I was away. I still didn't get tired enough to fall asleep, so I kept on going (doing things that I wanted to do but weren't necessary) till 3:00 AM...

Now I'm still trying to get organised. I really need to clean the apartment. I think I'll wait till tomorrow though. Today is busy enough.

Woke up singing "Easy as Life" from "Aida" this morning.

Tonight is the last night of classes. I'm really going to miss my Urban Affairs class. And I have to talk to Joel tonight, this is my last chance. I still don't know exactly what I'm going to say but I have a few questions in mind about urban issues. I also need to ask the Math Workshop woman what to do about finishing the workshop. I hope I get the answer I want, which is "finish it in the fall".

Tomorrow I'm going to clean the apartment and make a few phone calls (about my shoes, about the TV...). Thursday I'll hopefully get to go try on my shoes and then head over to The New School to try to talk to somebody about their psychology program. Then at night I'm meeting Marcell to see "A Class Act". She called last night and asked if I wanted to go with her. I'm thrilled she's making an effort to see me and even more thrilled that she's keeping me in mind for theatre tickets! It'll be fun to go to a show with a theatre person. Usually I go by myself or someone who isn't picky about things (Rebecca) or someone who has little or no comments about a show (Eytan).

English- boring as usual. Math workshop- the woman I need to ask about when I can finish wasn't there. I guess I'll call her on Thursday.

Now I must go do important things...

Today is NOT turning out the way it was supposed to. I got a call from Paula last night saying that Ethan Allan wanted to come put up the drapes today. Well, I told her today wasn't good and she said that she would call them in the morning. She called this morning and they said that they were already on their way. They said they would be here before noon. They just got here at 12:30 and said they would be an hour and a half. Great. Just what I needed.

I also got a call from Harvey last night asking me to go to the PF today. I figured that was fine since I needed to try on my shoes anyway and the two places are right near each other. So I thought this was a good day to do that even though I had a lot to do here.

I don't want to leave the Ethan Allan people alone, so hopefully they will be done by 2:00. Then I can go try on my shoes around 2:30. Then get to the PF around 3:30. I hope I won't need more than an hour and a half at the PF- I doubt I will.

Damn- the drilling going on is REALLY LOUD!!! I need ear plugs or something. Maybe they'll be done that part soon.

Last night's dream- was traveling to Vegas with Paula on Southwest Airlines (that's the most unlikely situation possible). I was running around the hotel looking for something or someone. I thought I wasn't wearing any pants, but then it turned out that I was. Then I was talking to Paula about what I wanted to do before I moved back east. I wanted to go to Vegas (done) and drive from Colorado to Georgia since I did it once before and it was beautiful (that makes no sense, but I think I was talking about driving through Utah- it just came out differently in the dream).

Woke up singing "Written in the Stars" from "Aida".

I really need to clean up this apartment and go through the mail. I guess I'll do that this evening.

At least I'll have more time for work tomorrow. I was going to go try on my shoes tomorrow, but since I'm doing that today, I'll have more time.

I'm not thinking about Joel today. Out of sight, out of mind. At least I get over things quickly.

Anyway, that didn't take so long and I was feeling sluggish, so I stopped and got some tea and a muffin and sat on the steps by the library for a few minutes. I always see people taking pictures of the library. So I decided to take a picture from in front of the library so people can see what's behind them when they're taking that picture. I'm sure it won't be very interesting. Most of the pictures I've taken this year aren't good at all. Speaking of pictures, Rebecca finally gave me copies of the pictures she took when we were in Austin. There's a really good one of me hanging upside down in a tree. The other few are okay too.

So I went to the PF. I wasn't there more than an hour. Man, those people really love to gossip. Today was on the value of certain people's assets. Who cares? They all have a lot of money. No one will ever give any sign as to how much they really have. Can't they just accept that and not argue about it? Geez.

I was going to stop by the cleaners and go food shopping after I left the PF, but I had to get home to call Harvey and give him the information, and I didn't feel like going back out after that. I'll go tomorrow. I also need to run to Duane Reade for a few things. Then I'll come home and clean the apartment and go through the mail before heading over to Times Square for "A Class Act" with Marcell.

Tonight I want to finish "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil".

For the past few days, I've had an odd song in my head. I heard it in "The Talented Mr. Ripley". I don't know if it's a real song or just something made for the movie. It's hard to sing since it's mostly in Italian and I don't speak Italian so I just mumble and add in "Americano" when that part comes up. It's really a very catchy tune that I just can't get out of my head. Also today I've had "Written in the Stars" in my head since I woke up, and right now, I have the "Music Man" overture in my head (the whole thing- right up until the breaks of the train squeaking leading into "Rock Island". All day today, it felt like Friday. Why do Wednesdays always feel like Fridays to me?

I wish I could watch a movie tonight. I meant to call the TV repair place today to see what was going on, but I ran out of time and they were closed by the time I got home. Oh well, I'll call tomorrow. They were supposed to call me a week ago. I'm not surprised they didn't. I hope that when I call tomorrow, they have the part already and just need to schedule a time to come fix it. And I hope they got the fax of my original receipt and I won't have to pay for the parts.

Last night's dream- was in an auditorium, I think in Maryland, for the first day of school (I think high school), they divided us into groups, I got put in a group with Erica, Chris, and another girl (I guess it could have been Lisa), it was like my theatre class at Scottsdale, then we followed our teacher through buildings, over hills, etc to another auditorium, ran into Rebecca and she asked me if I've ever had a class from Mary before, I said no, she said, "Good luck. I took an economics class from her once. Do you know what equal means?" "The same?" I said. "That's what I used to think too," Rebecca said. So then I was hanging out with Erica, Chris, and Lisa and talking about all the work we would have to do, then we were in New York and Chris got lost trying to get somewhere (we were acting just like we did when we used to hang out all the time), then we were back in an auditorium, some woman was talking to me, she wanted to know how old I was and before I could tell her, she guessed and she guessed right, I was in shock, so then we were flirting with each other, then Omar was there and he wanted to know what I was doing there, I answered him by singing a line from "The Banished Bride", don't remember if it made any sense or not, the woman next to me sang along with me and I was impressed she knew it, that's all I remember.

Woke up singing "Tunnel of Love" from "Side Show".

Now I'm going to clean the apartment and then go to Duane Reade and the cleaners. I'm going to skip food shopping for now. Maybe I'll go tomorrow. I also need to go deposit some checks at some point.

I called the TV repair place and they said that the part wasn't in yet but should be coming in early next week. Why am I not surprised? Well, I'll call on Tuesday, but I'm not hopeful. Even if it does come in soon, then I probably won't be able to schedule an appointment before I leave for two weeks. Oh well, it's not like I have much time to watch anything anyway. But then when I get back, they'll probably tell me since I didn't schedule an appointment, they gave the part to someone else and will need to reorder another one...

Not much else to say today...

Travel arrangements are getting changed a little. Maxine and Abby will be joining us in London. So that will be me, Neil, Maxine, and Abby in one room (hope we don't wake each other up). Then Neil wants to see if we can change hotels in Hong Kong since it's a nicer hotel and not much more money. We'll see what happens. I'm tired of thinking about all this stuff. I thought I was finished with those details. Oh well, it's not a big deal.

Before I went to the show, I read for a little while. I got exhausted and fell asleep for an hour. I really am not good at the nap thing. I felt numb when I woke up and could barely get ready. I got to Times Square early and stopped and had some caffeine before meeting Marcell. I think that helped a little.

Now I have to finish cleaning up the apartment. Paula and Harvey are coming up tomorrow and I can't have it looking like this when they get here.

I just made my 2001 Movie List. Funny looking at the movie list- seeing some of the movie titles one after the other looks strange- like "Othello" and "Detroit Rock City" or "He Said, She Said" and "Swimming with Sharks". I just have a wide variety of movie tastes, I guess. Of course, some I like much more than others. Then as I looked over the list some more, some people reading the list who don't know me might think I'm a young gay man.

Tomorrow, I think, I'll make my 2001 theatre list. I should probably try to fall asleep now. I'm still not recovered from my nap.

Whoa- last night's dream was too much for me... Rebecca was visiting me. We went back to my apartment after hanging out all day and my place was like Brian's old place in Fell's Point. In the apartment next door (which didn't have much of anything between the two- just swining shutter-type doors), was John and Joel. I knew because the door was open and I saw John getting in bed for the night. In bed already was a young man. Just as I called Rebecca over to see and ask if she thought he was gay, John put his arm around the young man and Joel got into bed with the two of them (Joel was wearing a Spiderman t-shirt!!!!!). Wow! So the next night, Rebecca and I hung out with them all night and had a great time. The next morning there was a note on the door from Joel saying that could never happen again. I didn't know how to continue living there. Then I woke up. I went back to sleep for a half an hour. This time the dream was a little different. I hung out by myself and had a great time. John and I spent more time together though this time. There were a lot more details involving Allyson Howard, Bob and Pam, etc. but I don't remember that now. John told me Joel just started seeing this person whom he doesn't like too much but it's okay for now. I decided to hook up with John since we were getting along well, he was nice enough, and it would give me an excuse to hang out and see Joel and maybe eventually his relationship with the other person wouldn't work out and... Then I woke up. Then I went back to sleep for a few minutes and had the dream a third time. This time, we hung out briefly, only because we saw each other in the hallway. Joel ignored me, John did not. I went to my room which was now next to their room- the two rooms met in a corner. So you could see my window from Joel's window. I went to sleep and woke up in the morning not knowing how to act. I was going to call Rebecca and ask her advise (since I remembered she was there the night Joel said he never wanted to talk to me again). I was about to call, when I heard the TV go on in the living room (Saturday morning cartoons). I decided to get dressed and go out in the living room shortly. Then I woke up. Those dreams really freaked me out. First of all, I've never had 3 versions of the same dream in the same night. I don't know if I've even had 3 versions of the same dream- EVER. It also scares me. What if this dream is saying that I shouldn't talk to Joel next Thursday? I'm going to ignore that and talk to him anyway.

I didn't get to sleep last night like I wanted to. I wrote in my notebook (goofy stuff, nothing interesting) for a little while and then tried to fall asleep for a little while and when that wasn't working, I came out to the living room and checked my email and got online for a little while. Then I got back in bed and read for a little while. I finally fell asleep at 6:30 AM. It would have been the perfect night for a movie. I think that's another reason I've been good about sleeping in my bed instead of on the couch. I can't watch tv on the couch and then just fall asleep here. I'll probably get so used to the bed that the couch won't be comfortable anymore. Anyway, I woke up from the first dream around 8:30, woke up from the second dream at 9:00, and woke up from the last dream at 9:15. I decided that was enough dreaming and came out to the living room to write down my dream. So much for a good night of sleep... But while I was trying to fall asleep, I found a way to ask Joel some questions. I can pretend I'm doing some research for a client on how non native New Yorkers came to live where they live in the city and if they like it and how long they plan on staying. I know that's sneaky, but hopefully that could lead to other things. If it doesn't, I'll give up. Now I just hope I can ask him in the middle of the final or ask him if I can wait around and ask him some questions after the final.

Paula and Harvey are arriving this afternoon. I hope they took the train, but I doubt they did. I think Harvey will be too tired to drive (he's really wiped out from this deadline- going to bed at 10:00 and waking up at 4:30 for too long), but he hates taking the train. "Takes too long," he says. Anyway, maybe Paula will want to do something fun today. I'd love to take a few hours and go do something fun. I'll talk to them when they get here.

Woke up singing "Not Me" from "Aida".

Today feels like Saturday.

I finally started reading my Fact-of-the-Day calendar. I learned that the Cynics came from a school of Greek philosophers founded in the 4th Century B.C. by Diogenes. He walked around seeking an honest man but couldn't find one. The Cynics said that virtue was the only good and that happiness could only be obtained by living a simple life with few desires and needs. So, in my opinion, we really shouldn't call people cynical, we should call them diogenical since that's what we mean when we use the term cynical. "Cynics" mean that they can't find good in the world, not that they need to live a simple life.

I also learned that the world's first oil well was drilled in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1859.

Right now I have "Take Me Back to Manhattan" from "Anything Goes" in my head. I am back in Manhattan and (almost) loving every minute of it!!!

I'm fairly tired tonight. I think I'll just read "Fever Pitch" or some more of my Fact-of-the-Day calendar for a little bit and then go to bed.

Tomorrow I'm going to Siegel's Rarities sale. I'm supposed to meet someone there (but I wanted to go anyway, just for fun). I hope he shows up so it doesn't look like I'm there for any other reason. Those stamp people LOVE to gossip. Of course, they'll gossip about why I'm there no matter who I show up with, so I'm not worrying about it. Let them think what they want. It doesn't matter in the long run.

Maybe tomorrow I'll put some more lists on this site- books I've read, theatre I've seen... I LOVE lists!!!

The auction today was okay. I got tired of sitting there taking prices, so I left around 3:00. Everyone asked what I was doing there.

Tonight I'm going to dinner at Kiiroi Hana with Paula and Harvey. I wanted to do something before dinner, but I don't know what. I should go food shopping but don't feel like it. I could take a walk but I have bad blisters on my feet and can't go too far. So I think I'll just take it easy until dinner. Maybe hang out with Harvey since he can't figure out what to do now either. Let's hope he gets off the phone soon...

Not much else to say today.

Oh yes, one thing. I got a ticket for "Urinetown the Musical" for tomorrow night. So tomorrow I'll study a little for my finals and then go to the show. Maybe Monday I'll go food shopping.

Oh yes, and one more thing. Preakness is today. With all the years I lived in or near Baltimore, I never went to the Preakness. One day I'd really like to go. Not really for the race, but to enjoy sitting in the hot sun or pouring rain (I think this is the first year it hasn't rained during the Preakness in a long time, if I remember correctly.) in the crappy neighbourhood of Pimlico with a bunch of obnoxious drunk people. Hmm, I made the Preakness sound really enjoyable, didn't I? Still, it would be an experience.

Then I was going to see a movie but there wasn't anything playing that I wanted to see, so I came home. I hung out with Paula and Harvey a little and then they were going to bed. I decided to go see "Moulin Rouge". Of course it was a Saturday night on the weekend it opened and it was only playing at two theatres (one in my area). So I walked over to 54th and 6th to the Zigfield Theatre and it was sold out. I didn't want to go home so I went to Connelly's for old times sake. There were some people from Ireland hanging out. They were taking pictures and one guy made me be in a picture with him. Then he wanted me to come with them to the other Connelly's on 47th since they had a band playing there. They weren't going right away and I wanted to go home, so I just left. It would have been fun to hang out with them some more but they all had thick Irish accents and talked a mile a minute so I couldn't understand them most of the time. It was getting to hard to understand them and try to get in the conversation.

Now I'm home and still wide awake. Today feels like it was a waste of a day. I hate doing nothing for an extended period of time. And I started thinking about Joel when I was walking to the movie theatre. I wished I could run into him but the odds of that were 1,000,000,000,000,000... to 1. I can't wait to try to talk to him on Thursday. I really hope that works. I'm going to try my hardest to MAKE it work! It's my last chance. If not... well, I'll be away for 2 weeks in places I've never been before, experiencing cultures I've never experienced before. I should forget about him for a little while. Unless the cultures and loneliness makes me homesick and makes me miss him even more... God, I hope not.

Paula and Harvey are leaving tomorrow morning- I'm sure I won't be up before they leave.

Harvey reminded me that today was Paula's mother's birthday. I knew that, I just forgot. And June 19th is Harvey's mother's birthday. And June 21st is Harvey's birthday. And July 21st is Mike's birthday. And May 21st is cousin Steve's birthday. Look at all these birthdays. And my birthday was March 7th and was one of the most boring days of this year. Next year will be better- I will MAKE it better!

Paula had a funny story today. Harvey asked me if I have heard of Enron. I told him I had. He asked Paula if she has heard of them. Her face got animated! She said that this was the third time she heard that company mentioned today. She read an article about them in the NY Times this morning. Then she was getting her hair cut, and the woman next to her was having a conversation with someone and said, "You've never heard of Enron? It's a huge company. I'm proud of my company." Then Harvey asked her about it. Today was the first day she's ever heard of them and she heard it mentioned 3 times. That is odd.

Now I'm looking forward to going to sleep. Maybe I'll have an interesting dream that I'll remember in the morning. I hope so. I love my dreams. They are usually more fun than my real life. I'm getting sick of my non-social life. As much as I don't like hanging out with George and Bill, maybe I'll see if they want to drag me along with them in London. At least it will be a somewhat social activity. Even though hanging out with them usually means listening to their boring conversations about stamps and not really being able to contribute... Oh well, we'll see...

Strange dreams last night. I didn't sleep well at all. I woke up countless times during the night and each time I went back to sleep I had a different dream. Don't remember all of them now. This is what I remember. The first dream I was going to Joel's office at school (he doesn't really have his own office). The school was at Scottsdale Community College. I was driving my old Corolla to get there. I went there to discuss an email he sent me about Ireland and being gay. Actually, now that's the only dream I remember. I remembered more an hour ago. Oh well.

I really don't want to start studying for finals. School- out of sight, out of mind. That's why I hate Spring Break. It makes me forget that I'm even taking classes and I never want to get back into it. I think I'll relax for a little bit and then start looking over some stuff for urban affairs. I don't even know how to study for English since she won't give us a clue as to what will be on the final. I suppose I can look through my 5 pages of notes and see if I wrote anything of importance. Other than that, I don't know what to do except think about the main themes of the books we've read and hope that there will be questions related to that on the final.

Paula and Harvey left. Tonight it "Urinetown". I might go food shopping today as a break from studying.

Jeff called while I was writing. That was a pleasant surprise! I haven't talked to him in ages. I miss him and hope to see him someday soon (although I have no idea when since I'll be traveling so much in the next few months). He's going to be in Baltimore during the next auction so I can't see him then. Maybe he can come visit me in the fall.

Now I think I'll go food shopping. So much for studying. Hopefully I can make myself study a little before I go to the show tonight.

I got my Citibank credit card bill yesterday. Now I don't have to remember to get their address and send them a check. I just need to remember to check my checking account balance so I know how much of my credit card bill I can pay this month.

I was thinking about cutting my hair before I leave. It's going to be so hot in Hong Kong, it might be nice to have my hair shorter. But having it long is so easy. When it's short, you have to do something with it every morning (or at least I do). I can't blow dry my hair since it's too dry. I can't blow dry my hair anyway- I've never been able to do it right, it always looks worse after I blow dry it. And leaving it air dry when it's short looks terrible as well. I wish I knew how to do something with my hair. I guess I'll just leave it long for now and wear it up in the hot weather or something.

I went food shopping! I'm getting sick of The Food Emporium. I think next time I'll go to Gristides to see if that's any different. And maybe I'll head up to Grace's to see what they have.

I got to the theatre early, so I walked toward 9th Ave. I forgot about the 9th Ave festival that was going on today. That was nice- to have something to do for a little while. I had a crepe which is extremely difficult to eat while standing in the crowds of people using only a plastic fork.

Back to "Urinetown", I am still trying to figure out how they will stage it for Broadway. They use a huge catwalk which won't work in a Broadway theatre. And I was wondering, before the show a woman asked an usher where the restrooms were. I was thinking that they should tell her that she has to pay before she can use it. I was tempted to ask how much they charge for the restrooms, but then I thought that they probably hear that all the time and are sick of it. The audience loved it! The woman behind me helped with the set design, so she was telling her friends all about that. The people next to me loved all of it but, like me, especially loved the gospel, revival part- that was really funny and fun and energetic! Anyway, I'd love to go again. It's extended through the beginning of July and then heads to Broadway. Maybe I'll wait to see it on Broadway just to see the changes.

Okay, lots of annoying details to take care of today. I just called the Door Store to arrange delivery of the new table for Thursday since Paula is having her platform bed delivered Thursday. I'm also trying to see if Ethan Allan can come Thursday instead of Tuesday to finish doing the curtains (last week they forgot part of it) so I don't have to be home an extra day. Then I had to check with Neil to see if US Air charged him for the flight change since they were supposed to but the charge showed up on my bill but not the flight change information (I'm assuming that got mailed to him).

Later this afternoon I need to start looking over the urban affairs stuff and look through my English notes.

Tomorrow I need to clean up the apartment and get everything off of the table so they can take it away Thursday and put the new one in its place. Then I have my English final at 5:00. I'm going to see if Tara can go out after the final. We've been wanting to do something for a while and that will probably be the only time for that since neither of us will make an effort to call each other (isn't it sad the way that works?).

Wednesday I'm going to study more for urban affairs and then go see "Tick Tick Boom" at night.

Thursday I'll finish studying for urban affairs and then go take the final.

Friday I'm going to relax a bit and possibly try one last time to look for clothes. I want to go down to 17th St. and check out those thrift shops.

Saturday Paula and Harvey are coming back up here and Sunday is NoJex which I'll probably attend for a few hours.

Monday-Wednesday is organisation time. I need to organise work and email and then pack (I'm really NOT looking forward to that).

I feel like I'm missing one or two important things I need to do, but I can't remember them now. I hope, if they are really that important, that I remember them soon.

Last night I had fun looking up how many Broadway theatres I've been to. I've been to 17. I wonder how many there are now? The only thing I could find is how many currently have shows (or have upcoming shows). There are 33 (not including "Cabaret" since that's not really a Broadway theatre).

Okay, I can't read in the middle of the day anymore- especially on a cloudy, rainy day. I fell asleep around 5:30, and slept on and off until 8:00. Now who knows when I'll fall asleep tonight. I'm kind of tired now, but not enough to fall asleep.

Ethan Allan never called back so they'll probably show up tomorrow. I wasn't planning on leaving tomorrow but now I'll be forced to stay home, which means I'll want to go out. Oh well, not a big deal.

I've been involved in the process in creating new mobile technologies recently. It's fun and interesting. I do love wireless capabilities and will love it even more when it gets faster. At least I can see what's going on so I know what we'll have to look forward to (and not look forward to).

I made a great impression with one client. He's impressed with how intelligent I am. Actually, I was impressed with me too. I didn't know I could bullshit so well for such a long period of time. I was asking all the right questions, kept my mouth shut at the right times, and brought up all the appropriate topics. Go me!!!

I really don't know what to do with myself now. Again, this would be a great night for a movie IF I HAD SOUND!! Well, hopefully I'll have sound on Thursday. If all goes well, Paula, Harvey, and I can watch a movie this weekend. That would be great. So what do I do now? I don't want to read anymore, I don't have any work to do, my brain isn't awake enough for studying (actually, my brain hasn't been working recently as well as it used to, but that's another story...), so what does that leave to do? Oh, I know! I can put up a list of all the theatre I've seen this year...

Okay, now I'm irritated! Amazon won't let me create links. The site isn't down but something is wrong with their affiliate program. This is the second time this has happened recently. What's going on? So I guess I'll wait to finish my theatre page. I didn't get very far. Damn, I finally had a good idea of what to do with my time and now I can't do that. So now what will I do?... ... ... I can't think of anything. Oh, I know what I'll do! I'll look up proof reading stuff for Marcell. She's been trying to find free lance proof reading work and I told her that I'd try to help. So, if anyone reading this knows of any temporary proof reading work in the NYC area, please let me know.

Now I have "The Lees of Virginia" from "1776" in my head. Now there's a song that can REALLY get on your nerves. I'd better quickly play something else in hopes that this one will leave my head!!!

I have "I'll Know" from "Guys and Dolls" in my head. Where did this one come from?

I have no idea if the Ethan Allan people are coming today or not, but I did remember a few things I needed to go do today. I have to go to the bank and then go across the street to Liberty Travel to pay the balance of my vacation. I know as soon as I go do that, Ethan Allan will show up. Neither of those things are things I need to do immediately, so I'll go do that on the way to take my English final. Yeah, that works.

I didn't fall asleep last night until after 3:00. I woke up at 9:00, I think. Today was one of those days where I just didn't want to get out of bed. It's so gloomy, it would have been much more fun to stay in my cozy bed and read all day... oh well, I must stop thinking about that- it's making me tired.

Little things on tap for today- straighten the apartment a little, look over my English stuff, call Marcell about the proof reading stuff, bank and Liberty travel, English final, possibly go out with Tara after?

Okay, I just discovered that someone on AOL searched for "nudist pictures" and came up with my site. I don't have any of that here. I have never even written about nudist pictures on this site. So I think AOL's search function is stupid. Of course, most things about AOL are stupid.

I looked over my English notes and I doubt anything I wrote will help me on the final. The final could be about ANYTHING. I don't appreciate this. I'll just be glad when it's over.

I'm also feeling artsy today. I took a few pictures out my window. I'm wearing a hat (mainly because I don't have an umbrella and it's the only solution to not get very wet). I want to take more pictures but don't feel like being out in the rain more than I have to. Maybe if Tara goes out with me after the final, I can take some pictures of her. She is cute and I'm sure very photographicable (my favourite word).

Shoot- now my CD Player is playing rainy day music- mellow Placebo song, mellow Depeche Mode... I need to listen to something upbeat if I'm going to get myself out of this apartment and ready to take a final... Great, now it's playing a mellow Dire Straits song. Maybe I should just go pick a song to listen to... Nah, that's no fun. I'll just keep hitting "next song" and see what it can come up with. It's not listening to me. Now it's playing Tim Booth- ya can't get much more mellow than that. Okay, we have a few more minutes of this ridiculous game and then I have to leave. No, a mellow Styx song is not what I asked for. Let's try again. The Clash- better, but not quite. Hmm, another mellow Styx song. What's wrong with you? I shouldn't have said that, not it's mad. It's playing a melancholy Dave Matthews song. And now a melancholy Levellers song. Maybe I just have too much mellow music? Maybe, but I know not all of it is mellow. My CD Player is just not being very helpful. One more try and then I'll force myself to sing "Good Say Sunshine" while I'm putting on my hat and shoes and get ready to walk out the door. A mellow Material Issue song? I didn't even know there was such a thing. One more try... nope, Dead Can Dance is certainly not upbeat. Oh well, time to go sing... Ah, now I scared it. It didn't want me to turn it off so it finally decided to play an upbeat Men at Work song. Okay, I can deal with this... Now I'm off to go take this mystery final...

I asked Tara during the final if she wanted to get a drink after and she said yes. When it was over, she said she forgot her out of town friend is still at her house and she should get back to him. So we just talked for a few minutes and then she said she would call me before I left for Amsterdam. We'll see if she actually does or not.

So now I'm home which is good since I never straightened the apartment today. I didn't go to the bank or Liberty Travel either- I decided that could wait until tomorrow. So tonight will be straighten-the-apartment-and-get-the-laundry-together night..

I have Peter Gabriel's "Biko" in my head.

So what am I doing now? Reading Epinions. Wow, there are some really crappy epinionators out there now. For every good epinion I read, I read 10 really bad ones. I miss the good old days (like a year ago). I had to put this one up here (I won't reveal the writer):
"If you r getting this phone u probably have att. the problem with att is all of there phones are horrible, they never have the cool phones that the other compamies have so i feel left out. THis phone is very coool though. It has tons of fun stuff that i never had on my startac. I never wanted a nokia cuz they were always to big or expensive but this fun is small and affordable too. It was 200 bucks but they gave me like 160 dollars in rebates and stuff, It has all the fun nokia things like games, ringtones, callendders, face plates and other fun stuff"
The end. And this kind of epinion much more common than something written by the few good people left like Bonies.

I have two songs in my head. "We Make a Beautiful Pair" from "Shenandoah" and "A Bushel and a Peck" from "Guys and Dolls" (what's with this show in my head these days?). Both are getting on my nerves, but I prefer the former; it's less annoying.

It's still gloomy today. What's with all the rain? Hey, when it rains, it pours. We had been in a drought. I never notice these things though. I only hear about it from other people. I hope it gets sunny soon, but it doesn't look like it will.

I had a dream last night that I asked Joel if I could talk to him after the final. I did start to talk to him and it was going well, but then the dream shifted and I lost track of him. Later I got mad at myself for losing track of him since I knew that was last time I'd ever see him. Then there was something about someone finding a cancelled credit card that was mine (makes sense, since the business card was just cancelled due to fraud. That's all I remember now.

Today I really need to start studying for my urban affairs final. I really want to do well on it. Then I'll go to the bank and Liberty Travel before I come home for an hour or so before I go see "Tick Tick Boom".

I went to the bank, Liberty Travel, and started studying for my urban affairs final.

I called the Door Store since they didn't call me with a delivery time for tomorrow. First they didn't know what I was talking about and said I wasn't on the route for tomorrow. Eventually she called me back and told me I was right (gee, really?) and I was on the route for tomorrow and she would call me tomorrow morning to let me know around what time they would be here. I hope they get here before 5:00 since I have to leave at 5:30 to go take my final. Same goes for the TV people, they're scheduled between 1-5.

One thing I started thinking about during the show- why are there so few good parts for women in musicals? First I thought it was because most people who write musicals are male. Well, that's true, but they should still be able to write better roles. Then I thought, maybe women just aren't interesting enough to write great roles about. Then I thought, maybe men just don't understand women enough to write great roles. In musicals, women are usually there to look pretty and provide a romantic interest. It would be nice to see some better female characters out there. The best female characters I can think of off the top of my head are: Rose from ""Gypsy" and the Baker's Wife and the Witch from "Into the Woods". Now my goal is to take one of the female characters from the musical I'm writing and turn her into a complex, fascinating, intelligent, fun, not over-emotional woman!

It was misting all day today. During the day, half of the people on the streets were carrying umbrellas. I wouldn't have bothered even if I had an umbrella. What wimps. It wasn't even raining. Then tonight when I was walking back from the theatre, no one I passed was carrying an umbrella but the mist was stronger than during the day. During the day, a lot of people are walking around because they have to for work. The people carrying the umbrellas got themselves safely in their apartments as soon as possible and didn't go back out in the rain. The people walking around at night are people who want to go out and don't care about a little mist. Those were the people walking around during the day without umbrellas. And my point is? I don't have one- just an observation.

I think Eytan would really enjoy Tick Tick Boom. I'm going to see if he wants to see it with me when he's here in June. I certainly would LOVE to see it again. And I'm hoping that a cast recording gets made!!! I really enjoyed the music- energetic, realistic, touching, sentimental, and memorable!!!

I just put in a microwave dinner that's supposed to cook for 5 and a half minutes, so I set it for 5 minutes and 23 seconds- today's date. Do other people do stuff like this?

I'm just not ready to go to bed yet. I'm feeling sentimental and odd (I can't explain the mood). I know what I'm not. I'm not sad, lonely, hyper, happy, melancholy, angry, sleepy. I'm a bit confused maybe. Confused about my mood, that's all. I am in some kind of mood, I'm not blank. Last night when I was trying to fall asleep I was thinking about people I've done shows with. I could remember people I barely knew and after I thought about all of them, I started remembering people I actually liked doing shows with. People like Charlie, Paul, Troy, Joel, Rick. Hmm, those are all men. Did I not like any of the women? Actually, I've liked very few women I've done shows with. Maybe people who write musicals only know women in theatre. That's why they don't write good parts for women- all the women they know are annoying. I doubt it, but it's a nice easy answer.

Listening to Elton John's "Tiny Dancer". Remembering the scene in "Almost Famous" when they are all on the bus singing this song. Remembering going to see that movie with Jon and then going to Gampy's after. That was a fun night. Sometimes I think I've had better times with Jon before and after we were dating. I never did understand why we dated, besides so I could make some good friends (Eytan, Jeff, and Brian). But I didn't know that at the time. Brian and I became better friends after Jon and I broke up and same with Eytan. At first, I think I was just interested in seeing another way of life (traditional, rational, stable kind of life). Until Jon, I didn't know anyone like this and it was a nice change. It was nice to have someone to hang out with who didn't always need a ride somewhere or always needed to borrow money or would disappear for months at a time. After a while, his stability got old. He was too predictable and boring. He was open to new things but didn't have a reaction to anything. Everything was "okay". I needed someone more interested in life than that.

Now I'm listening to the German version of "Out Tonight" from "Rent". And now am listening to Madonna's "Not for Me". I love that she's singing in French. I really like her. I like that she's still around trying new styles. I like that she tries new things and is good at them. Jeff wants to pay $1000 for front row tickets to her show in Chicago. He needs someone to go with and he asked me. Um, I'd love to go but refuse to pay that much money (or even close to that much money). He probably won't find anyone. I told him to go alone. It could be fun meeting other people in the front row and there's more of a chance for him to talk to them if he's alone. He does well alone. He travels alone all the time (Europe, Africa, maybe Alaska this summer...). I'm really glad Jeff called the other day. It was fun talking to him again. It would be even more fun to hang out with him again soon. I miss him. He's really a lot of fun. I like hanging out with him alone for a little bit, then going out with other people, and ending the evening alone. That's the way it was the last time and it was perfect. It's fun watching him transform from his goofy self to his business self to his goofy self to his funny self. It's fun listening to the interesting things he comes up with. He can talk off the top of his head, trying to be goofy, but come up with some pretty interesting stuff. I really want to get to know him better. With all the time we've spent together, I feel like I know him the least of all my friends.

Now I'm listening to "Not Me" from "Aida". I love the harmony between Heather Headley and Sherie Rene Scott.

And now Napster decided to shut down and I took that as my cue to stop listening to music. I'm sure that's contributing to this mood in some way. Although, now that there's no music, I feel like something is missing. Time to crank up the CD Player.

Cool, my CD Player is playing a mellow Moby song- "Guitar, Flute & String" (of course I would like something with this title). I like it. I haven't heard this one before. Too short though. Now we're listening to Dead Can Dance. My CD Player is trying to put me in a mellow mood. That's good, maybe it wants me to go to sleep. I wish I could play it loud enough to hear in my bedroom. Dead Can Dance really makes me want to light a bunch of candles, burn some incense, and get under the covers. That would take too much effort though. And I'd rather not stop writing yet.

I feel like I can't stop writing. I hardly get like this anymore and it's fun. I feel like I might come to some conclusion (on something) if I keep writing. Doubtful, but I'll keep writing just the same.

Neil's probably going to get to work tomorrow around 6:30, look at this site, and wish he didn't have the urge to read it. I probably have written too much and about too many different subjects. Neil, do you really read everything or skim most of it? I know you read a lot of it since you quote it back to me when I see you. That's always fun.

Ah, another mellow song- Heather Nova's "Valley of Sound". I like her voice but it reminds me of a few different female singers- I guess she's just generic. Oh, here we go again, with all women being similar and boring. What is my problem? I need to be around lively, intelligent, fascinating women. I know they're out there. I've met a few- Heather Beck is the first one that comes to mind, although I didn't know her very well (wish I did though).

Whoa- Rush doesn't fit in with the mellow mood, try again CD Player... Ah, Mickey Hart, much better. More music to light those candles and slip under the covers. This and Dead Can Dance reminds me of when I was living in my apartment in Baltimore on Cedarcroft Rd. and I used to burn candles and incense regularly. I used to love Sunday nights when NPR had 3 great radio shows in a row- Hearts of Space, Echoes, and Music from Around the World. Those great nights didn't last too long- those shows were short lived and I don't think they have any of them on anywhere anymore. Speaking of cool radio shows, Emerson College has a Broadway show on Saturday mornings. Rebecca and I listened to some of it on our way to Walden Pond. They played mostly good stuff (stuff I like anyway). They played "Ease on Down the Road" from "The Wiz". I hadn't heard that song in AGES! What fun that was! What an upbeat, fun song to listen to on a beautiful Spring (though hot for Spring) day in New England when you don't have a care in the world. I was dancing and singing in the car. It was quite fun. There aren't too many people I'd feel completely comfortable doing that in front of- thank you, Rebecca for being one of the few.

Ah, mellow Depeche Mode. This reminds me of driving from New York to Baltimore with George and Bill. George put on Depeche Mode's "Violator" album right before we got home. The rest of the trip was dull but that perked it up (at least for me). I was sitting in the back of his truck, enjoying the tunes and watching George, in the rearview mirror, enjoy them along with me and watching Bill not enjoy it at all (I liked that part too). I love how all of these songs I'm listening to tonight bring up a whole new topic. I really do need to go to bed soon though. It's 1:10 now, I'll give myself until 1:30.

I'm really in a lets-stay-up-all-night-and-write-and-listen-to-music mood, but that won't be a good idea with my final tomorrow. I need full brain-power for that.

No, I don't want to listen to that zydago (I know I spelled that wrong, don't feel like looking up the spelling) song from Paul Simon's "Graceland". Okay, now it's playing "Knife's Edge" by Glen Hughes from the ELP Tribute album (yes, I had to look up who was covering this song). Hey, these little stories are a kind of personal "Behind the Music" thing. Okay, the story behind this one. I saw ELP in the summer of '96 with Andy in Columbia, MD and then later that summer (or Fall, I think) with Josh in Columbus, OH. I didn't care too much for ELP the first time I saw them, but the second time I was blown away. I LOVED them. I usually don't like hearing a band live when I don't know any of their music, but I liked this one. It made me get really into their music for a while. I had avoided them previously, since I had this weird thing with this guy, Scott, who liked them a lot so they reminded me of him. But I got over that quickly. This band was good! The only other bands that I heard live and liked without knowing any of their music was Once Hush and Jethro Tull (although this one doesn't entirely count since I knew some of their music before I head them live but I didn't know hardly any of what they played at that first show I went to).

Erasure it wants me to listen to now? Nah, try again... Eeeeek!!! Material Issue- and not the one mellow song it played the other day. I can't handle them right now. Blessed Union of Souls? Okay, I can deal with this. Story behind this- I belonged to BMG and they sent me Blessed Union of Soul's album by mistake (didn't charge me so I didn't send it back). I heard "Oh Virginia" (which I'm glad my CD Player isn't playing now- couldn't handle that) for the first time when I was living in Baltimore but going down to Blacksburg several weekends in the Fall of '95. I fell in love with that town then. When I heard "Oh Virginia", it reminded me of Blacksburg and why I loved it so much. I listened to that song while driving down there and got excited about being there, and I listened to it on the way back to Baltimore and cried because I was leaving and didn't ever know when I'd be back (little did I know I'd move there a few months later). I still wouldn't mind living there again one day. Maybe once my life is more settled and I have extra money and time, I could live there for a few months. Doubtful, but ya never know... Perfect timing, I ended my story just as the song was ending. What's next?

Uh-oh, this is not a mellow song. It wanted to play "Molly" by Sponge. That's another Virginia memory. Driving around Blacksburg with Eytan and Terry listening to that song and singing it at the tops of our lungs. Oh, what happy times those were.

Now it's playing Dave Matthew's, "Stay". This doesn't remind me of anything in particular except Eytan. Not much to say about that. Let's try another song. This one isn't mellow enough.

Almost perfect- Sarah McLachlan's, "Ice Cream". I say almost, since this is one of my least favourite of her songs, but it's still nice to hear Sarah- I haven't listened to her in a while. This reminds me of Daniel. When we were living at Loch Raven Village apartments, he used to play this CD over and over and over for months at a time. Then when we "moved out" of our apartment and stayed at Jason and Caroline's when they were out of town, we really bonded. We listened to this CD, rented movies, drank Gatorade and Vodka or wine, listened to cheesy 70's and 80's songs and sang along, stayed up all night and talked and cuddled and stuff... that was a great two weeks. The worse things got with Brian, the better things got with Daniel. Those two weeks before I moved to Arizona were the best two weeks of my life (at least I can't think of a better two weeks off the top of my head).

Okay, it's 1:35, time to try for some sleep...

Uh-oh, just as I typed that, Josh got online. I'm not going to start a conversation and hopefully he won't either. I know I can tell him I need to go to sleep, but I won't want to.

One last thing- of all the music I listened to tonight, what do I have in my head right now? The closing little tune to South Park (when the airplane comes on the screen)- doo, doo, doo doo, do doo doo doo doo doo, doo doo. I haven't watched that show since I moved to New York. Where did that little tune come from now?

Well, Ethan Allan came early. That's a nice thing. He shouldn't be here long. And I called the Door Store (since of course, they didn't call me this morning) to see about what time they would get here and they told me I was 4th and currently the drivers were on the 2nd. So they should be here soon as well. Then I just need to wait for the bed and TV people. And someone from the building is supposed to be coming up here to check the intercom which George, at the front desk, just told me isn't working for some reason.

I really need to start studying, but when I woke up I was bombarded with technical things to do (stuff online). So I'm almost finished that and I should start studying in the next half an hour or so.

I woke singing "Not Me" from "Aida". I'm surprised I'm not getting sick of this one yet.

Now the guy from the apartment is doing something with my phone line. He's taking forever. I hope no one important is trying to call. I just picture the bed people or the Door Store showing up and the conceirge is trying to call me to let me know they're here not realising that he can't get through to me since the guy is playing with the intercom thing. He knows that the guy is working on it, maybe he'll remember that when he can't get through to me. He knows I'm here. Hopefully he'll just send the workers up.

Now I need to go get ready and go take my final.

I think I'm ready for the final. Today was not a good day to study with all the interruptions with doors ringing and phones ringing and all those little details to take care of since nothing goes smoothly... but I did the best I could. I know the information but not so well that I know it inside and out and could answer any possible question on the material. So much of the material is similar and it's all multiple choice so I'm sure most of the answers will be similar and hard to pick out which one is the correct answer. I really want to do well, but even if I get a C (if I do get an A on the last paper), I should still get an A for the class. I'm nervous but I can't tell if that's because of the final or I'm scared that I won't get to talk to Joel. Anyway, they're here setting up the table so in a few minutes I can go get changed and head out of here...

Now I'm going to take the night off and relax. I'd love to watch a movie, but not only do I not have sound, I don't have a TV. I could go see a movie, but I think I want to stay in and relax tonight. I'll go see Pearl Harbor and Moulin Rouge over the weekend (hopefully).

Paula and Harvey are here. They get here earlier and earlier. They are making tons and tons of calls- problems at the office...

I can't believe Mussina beat Pedro yesterday. A little upset about that.

I emailed Joel last night. I just hope he still checks the email address I have for him. The only time I emailed him was about the walking tour. He never responded but that could have been because there was nothing to say. Still, you would think that he would reply just to say there was no news. So he either didn't get the email or got it and didn't feel the need to respond. If he didn't get the email, does that mean he has a different email address or one he checks more often? Oh hey, I remember some girl in the class mentioning that she emailed Joel once and he did write back. So there's a little hope... Oh well, there's nothing I can do now except wait. I just had a scary thought- what if Joel is online savy and found this web site and read all this nonsense I've written about him? Nah, I don't think he's an online kinda guy...

I really can't concentrate with Paula yelling on the phone and Harvey looming over her and walking back and forth, in and out of all the rooms VERY loudly!

I guess I should get used to people being around all the time. Yesterday there were people all over the place in here. This weekend Paula and Harvey will be here the whole time. Then I get to spend 2 weeks in rooms with Neil (and Maxine and Abby). Then Brian and Rebecca will be here for a few days when I get back. Then Eytan will be staying here for a few days. After that, I hope to have some peace, quiet, and relaxation.

Whenever Paula and Harvey are here, they make me want to procrastinate. I don't know why, but it always happens. I decided to take the afternoon off and go see "Pearl Harbor". It was okay. I would have liked it better if I had different people sitting next to me. The woman next to me was blubbering like a baby the entire time. And she kept talking to her friend too. And her coat was halfway on my seat. I asked her to move it twice, but it kept moving back over every time she reached into her purse to grab another tissue. This woman blew her nose 20 times, at least, during the movie. Anyway, the movie... great effects, good score, good idea for a movie, so-so acting, the length (3 hours) was fine, the plot was way too predictable- and I don't just mean the historical part (that's obviously predictable), I mean the romantic plot- way too predictable. Oh well, it's still worth seeing, I think.

Then I had Chinese food with Paula and Harvey- really good peking duck from Shun Lee. Then they were sitting in the living room reading and I didn't know what to do, so I decided to go see another movie- cold, dreary days are great movie days. I saw "About Adam". It was cute and different. And I LOVE Irish accents!

Now I'm home and plan to catch up on a little work (I did some during dinner) and call it an early night.

Tomorrow I'm going to The Met with Paula and Harvey. They want to see the Vermeer exhibit and since I already saw that, I'll go see the William Blake exhibit. I've been wanting to see that since it opened. I'm assuming it will be less crowded than the Vermeer and the Jackie Kennedy exhibits. I hope so, anyway.

Haven't heard back from Joel yet. I didn't really expect to. Had another thought. What if he went away for Memorial Day weekend? That's possible. I guess if I haven't heard from him by Wednesday, I can expect to not hear from him. Besides, after Wednesday, I'll be in Amsterdam, London, and Hong Kong for two weeks...

I have "More than We Bargained For" from "Side Show" in my head. I wish I knew how brains figure out what songs to get stuck on and when and why.

Nomo pitched a great game tonight! And the Yankees lost!!!!

Just found an interesting story at PBS's web site on "Huck Finn". I know they did a story on it a few weeks ago. Too bad the essay for the final wasn't on the controversy of this novel. I was sure it would be, but that woman was the most unpredictable teacher I've ever had... Who cares? It's all over now...

On my Fact-of-the-Day calendar, today it listed the most common gifts for wedding anniversaries. I learned that the 3rd anniversary, it's appropriate to give leather. Hmm, is that because the sex life starts to dwindle and they need interesting gadgets to keep them occupied in that year?

Went to The Met with Harvey today. Paula isn't feeling well and we convinced her to stay home. If she was feeling better later, Harvey was going to go back with her to see the Vermeer. We looked at the Blake exhibit. I didn't realise that all his work was on religion and myths. It was interesting. I liked the shapes and colours but not the themes. My favourite was the Devil 666 painting. Then I convinced him to look around the Arms and Armour room! I'd never been there before. Now it's my favourite room there!!!!! I just love swords and knives and stuff! Those swords were HUGE!!! They were 4 feet tall and must have weighed quite a lot. People were shorter back then. How did they carry these things, let alone use them? They were stronger and in great shape, I guess. Anyway, we didn't look around that long since both of us have bad feet- well, Harvey has bad feet and I can't handle walking around in shoes that aren't sandals for very long. So now I'll have to go back sometime and really look at those swords! I don't think Paula is feeling much better. I think she should rest and not walk around a crowded museum. I feel bad that Harvey didn't get to see the Vermeer though. He should have looked around a little while we were there. Oh well, too late now.

Tonight I think we're going to order Japanese and maybe go to this bakery on 73rd after. I've been wanting to go there but never remember. I'm not a big dessert person, so the idea of going to a bakery never enters my mind. Paula and Harvey are dessert people, and when Paula mentioned wanting to go to a restaurant with good desserts (she was reading the Time Out magazine listing all these trendy restaurants in TriBeCa and vicinity with good desserts), I suggested going somewhere closer- Payard, the bakery on 73rd.

Eytan wanted to talk to me this weekend since I guess he wanted to talk to me before I left. So I just called him and he had his "boyfriend" (I don't know what else to call him) over. They're going out to eat and then going to see a show at Spotlighters (I'm jealous, I want to go see a show at Spotlighters. Although, I've seen a lot of good theatre recently. But there's always room for more. I'll never tire of seeing shows!!). So now, the only time I can talk to him now is Tuesday night since I'll be home dying my hair and packing to leave on Wednesday.

I decided that I don't care if I hear back from Joel or not. I really would love to talk to him more, but it's not the end of the world if I don't. First of all, I'm really busy now. Also, I guess it's kind of out of sight, out of mind- I haven't seen him recently so I don't remember how wonderful he is. I mean, I do, but I don't. Anyway, that's a good thing. I don't need to be dwelling on a man right now. It was nice to see him all semester though. It made me look forward to that class even more than I already was.

What should I do for an hour? What I'd like to do is play guitar, but since I can't do that... I'll go look for some karaoke files and sing. I'm feeling musical today.

After going to the museum, I was feeling artistic. So I got some film and took a picture of this piece of newspaper lying in a puddle of water on the sidewalk. It looked interesting.

Uh-oh, I know something else I can do instead of sing. I dropped off some film this afternoon and hopefully the place is still open. I'll go run there now...

Tomorrow Harvey and I are leaving around 9:30 to pick up David and head to NoJex. Paula will hopefully have a leisurely morning and afternoon (except for going to get a few things for her trip). Then we'll come back later that afternoon, rest for a little bit (and I hope I remember to pick up my pictures), and then go to Maya's for dinner (hopefully David will come too).

I didn't feel like going home yet, so I went to Fitzpatrick's Hotel/Bar and had a few more glasses of port. There was some R&B song playing that had the tune of "Hernando's Hideaway" from "Pajama Game". I didn't know you could rip off a tune like that. I watched the 2nd period of the Devils/Avalanche Stanley Cup game one. I've never been that into a hockey game before. It's just so frustrating to watch- the puck moves so fast on the ice and it takes forever for someone to score. Sitting next to me, was a man from Boston. He was here for the weekend with his family. We talked for a little while and then his wife joined him after putting the kids to bed. I gave them restaurant suggestions and then their kids called down so they left. At least I had someone to talk to for a few minutes. And at least I had the hockey game to watch the rest of the time. I don't like that bar- too boring. I just didn't want to go to Pig n' Whistle alone on a Saturday night. Too crowded anyway.

Now I'm home and will goof off online for a little bit before heading to bed. I hope I can fall asleep before 4:00, as I have to get up early to head to Jersey tomorrow morning...

Today wasn't too exciting. We left around 9:30 and went to NoJex. I talked to a few people for a few minutes and read New York Magazine the rest of the time.

Then we came back and rested for a little while. I got a stupid occular migrane, but fortuately it didn't last that long. I don't why I'm getting them more often these days. I'm still convinced it has something to do with my contacts.

Harvey, Paula, David, and I had dinner at Maya's. I really do love that place!!!

The weather was odd today. Around 3:00, it got sunny and warm. Then around 8:00, a summer thunder storm started to happen but didn't really kick in. It looked pretty enough though. It wasn't really raining when I left the restaurant, but by the time I got to 61st & 3rd, it really started coming down. I can't wait to see the monsoons in Hong Kong.

I had a weird dream last night but don't remember much now. I was at Sylvia's apartment and Brie was lying about something she was doing (something that I guess I wanted her to do and didn't want to tell me she wasn't doing it). It reminded me of Brian. Actually, I think it was Brian disguised as Brie. Then Paula and I were looking at a HUGE photo of myself at age 1 on the wall. Then my eyes, in the picture, started moving. I was freaked and asked Paula to scratch the arm in the photo to see if it would leave a scar and I would have it now. She didn't want to or something. Then the dream moved away from there.

Tomorrow Paula and Harvey leave for France (even though Paula is still sick. Problem after problem is being created for this trip. Neil just called and said that Abby has a cold. Today, Harvey and I found out that yesterday Howard (who is supposed to be bring the China stuff to Hong Kong and help show them and stuff) had a mild heart attack and therefore, will not be joining us in Hong Kong. Then there are still problems with the bond situation- how to bring things of value, that will not be sold, in and out of London. They're making it REALLY difficult. Everyone tells you something different (big surprise). Paula asked about a phrase that said, if everything goes wrong now, things will be great later. I told her in theatre, the common phrase is, "A bad dress rehearsal means a great opening night,"- she said that's what she was talking about. I sure hope that all this mess means a flawless, successful auction.

I have "Shipoopi" from "Music Man" and "We Make a Beautiful Pair" from "Shenandoah" in my head. I don't know why I always have to say what songs are in my head. It became a habit at some point, but why?

Paula and Harvey are running around trying to get ready for their trip.

I remembered my dream earlier this morning, but it escapes me now. In fact, everything I was thinking about writing is escaping me now. I think Paula and Harvey being hectic is distrating me. I can't concentrate. Then maybe I should say goodbye and run out and do some errands now since I can't get anything done here.

Paula and Harvey left! Have fun guys! I hope they manage to relax for at least part of the time.

More songs I've had in my head today- "Seasons of Love" from "Rent" and "I Can Learn" (I think that's what it's called) from "The Fantasticks".

Enjoyed watching the second half of the Milwaulkee/Phili game last night.

Today has been productive so far. I went to Housing Works on 17th St. Didn't find anything, but at least I tried. I walked over to Union Square to catch the 6 train. I walked around the park for a few minutes and have never seen New York look so boring. Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, Virgin Megastore, boring people... That area used to be much more interesting. Then I went to the handbag place that was closed the other day. I managed to find an inexpensive black bag which should fit all my stuff, including a compact umbrella which I also got there! Then I dropped off a roll of film and will go pick it up in a few minutes. Tonight I will dye my hair and pack. Tomorrow I will organise work and email.

I'm gettting excited for my trip! I still have this cold lurking wanting to take over, but I won't let it! I have a slightly scratchy throat but that's all. It will go away. So, I'm really looking forward to Amsterdam, London, and Hong Kong. Neil and I have plenty of time during our layover at Gatwick to discuss Amsterdam plans. London is more up in the air. My main goal there is to see theatre and that all depends on how the work situation works and what everyone else is doing. I hope I have time to see two shows, but if I only get to one, that's fine too. The rest of the free time is also up in the air, but I'm less worried about that. I guess because I know there's too much to do and there's not enough time to do everything and as long as we do something, that's good enough. Also, it's not a difficult city to get back to sometime (especially if I wind up being able to take classes there next summer- but that's a whole different story...). There are two things that I'd really like to try to do though- The Theatre Museum and Parliament. As for Hong Kong, we can figure that out at some point on the 13 hour flight over there. Oh, and since Howard isn't coming to Hong Kong, George will be there. That makes things different. It means I might possibly have a night buddy at least one night (unless he's exhausted from all the traveling- since he has to fly home from London on Thursday and then leave Saturday morning for Hong Kong). If he's too tired, that's fine too. I'll be seeing enough of him during the workday and there's certainly a FINITE time we can spend together without me completely wanting to slug him or something. Of course, that amount of time changes constantly. Sometimes it's only 5 minutes...

I signed up with Virgin Atlantic's frequent flier programme. I hope they allow the miles for my flight to Hong Kong to be added to my account. I doubt I'll fly on Virgin (or Continental) any time soon, but if I accumulate 10,000 miles, I can transfer them to Hilton points. I'm really racking up the Hilton points!! I love their programme- they're the only company that makes it really easy to get rewards.

Okay, since I started writing this, it stopped raining and the sun came out. The weather has been so odd for the past week or so...

I dyed my hair and it's REALLY red!!! I love it!! I wish it would stay like this for a few weeks rather than the usual few days.

I talked to Eytan for a few minutes. I haven't talked to him in a while and won't be talking to him before he comes up here in June. He was going to call me later tonight but he called from Towson instead since later tonight he's going to Jeff's (his "friend") house tonight. So he called me to pass the time in between work and going to Jeff's. Oh well, at least he called. I hope things work out with Jeff- he's been spending a great deal of time with him since they met and it would be a shame if he gets hurt or if it just doesn't work out.

Now I'm helping someone design their business cards. What fun.

I transfered the contents of my old bag to the new one. Everything fits and there's still tons of room. I love this thing!

I have everything I need for my trip (except I need to get some more eye drops), most of it is organised, now I just need to pack it. I should do that later tonight.

It feels like a summer night from my teen years. That's because I'm drinking root beet schnapps. I remember coming home a rehearsal on a summer night and drinking root beer schnapps while writing for hours before going to sleep. I probably only did that a few times, but that's the only time I ever drank root beer schnapps so that's what I'm remembering as I drink it now. I don't know what possessed me to buy it. It really is refreshing though. I just added a few shots of it into some root beer- so it's root beer with a kick.

The sun is sort of back out (well, it's setting). I decided to take a picture of the Rosevelt Island tram-thing from my window again. I seem to be getting obsessed with taking pictures from my window. I wish my window opened more than 2 inches so I could have more variety of scenery. I also wish I had a bigger zoom so I could zoom in on the people walking on the sidewalk. That would make for some interesing pictures. I really like people pictures more than scenery pictures. The best is people pictures with interesting scenery around them.

I decided to put on Ian Anderson's "Secret Language of Birds". These songs are incredible!!!!! I can't wait to see them this summer. I was thinking about going to the Red Bank show with Matt and Carey but that would mean I would go see Yes with Josh at Wolftrap on August 24th, get to Red Bank for the show on the 26th, get back to the city late at night somehow, start classes on the 27th, and then head down to Baltimore on the 30th for Balpex. That's not quite worth it. Fortunately, they'll be at Pier Six in Baltimore on the 31st so I'll do that show. I think Josh wants to go too. I hope so. The last show we went to at Pier Six we had a blast. Of course we had centre, 3rd row seats!!! Andy Giddings, Ian Anderson and Jonathan Noyce were right in front of us!!! It was truly amazing! And then there was that clap of thunder just as the loud boom from Doane Perry's percussion came- what timing! That was a great day in general. It was an extremely sunny and warm day. Josh and I took the bus downtown and walked over to Fells Point. We walked around there all day (I bought a nice, inexpensive accoustic guitar which the owner of the antique shop delivered to me a few days later- how cool!!!) and then headed over to Pier Six at night. We talked to a few other fans before the show and then sat down. In front of us were Matt, Carey, and their friend Brian, although I didn't know them at the time. I just knew that there were two young, cute guys sitting in front of us (a rare occurance at a Tull show). We talked to them for only a minute or two. That was why I was so surprised that they recognised me up in Vermont for the Tull convention that fall. I'm glad they did though!!! That was a fantastic day too! Being at the convention, talking to Andy Giddings, seeing them play and banter and tell stories for a few hours at the convention, going to a pub and watching the Orioles/Cleveland baseball playoff game 7 that went for 11 innings and Cleveland finally won, then going to the Tull concert that night, then going to the bar after the concert with the Tull cover band and hanging out with Matt, Brian, and Carey and talking to and getting my picture with Doane Perry... WOW- that was one of the best days of my life. And to think I almost didn't make it. I was supposed to go with some fan from Delaware that I only knew from email exchanges. A few days before we were supposed to leave, he backed out (car trouble or too busy, I don't remember). I didn't have a car but found a cheap plane ticket and went! And I got to stay with Stephen Osborne in his beautiful house out in the country of Jeffersonville, VT. Had a lovely dinner at a cozy restaurant and had a traditional Vermont breakfast with the whole family the next morning. Lorraine, his wife, let me borrow her car for the day. I left the bar after the concert at 2:00 and didn't get back to their house until 4:45. I got completely lost since on the way there, I didn't really pay attention to how I left the house since I was so excited to get to the convention. I was on a dark road and out walk a moose in the middle of the road. I didn't know what to do. I just sat there and hoped it would move eventually. It did. It only took 10 minutes or so but it felt like forever. Nothing was open in Jeffersonville- not even the gas station. I knew I was in Jeffersonville since I passed the post office. Finally, and I don't know how, I found my way back. I got lucky. I don't know what I would have done if I couldn't find the house. I suppose I would have called them at 6:00 (not earlier since I wouldn't have wanted to wake them up) and told them that I met some friends and stayed with them and I didn't want to call and tell them that since I didn't want to wake them up. Then I could have asked for directions from wherever I was.

What kind of stream-of-consciousness babble was that?!?!?!

Oh yes, I never heard back from Joel. Oh well- at least I tried.

Okay, I think I will try to pack now...

Well, I'm all packed and my bag is really light so I'm nervous that I didn't bring everything I need. I went over it twice and I just can't think of anything else. Hopefully I have enough clothes. I think I do have enough, just not the right ones. It's going to be cold and rainy in Amsterdam and London and all I have are suit-type jackets. Oh well, at least I have an umbrella for the first time in my life. If I'm cold, I'm cold. Not a big deal, right? I'll be fine. If it becomes a huge problem, I can always try to buy a jacket. That's what people always say, but it's easier for them, I think. I can't buy things like most people. I don't know where to look, I can't find anything I like, I can't find things that fit, and it's usually too expensive. Oh well, maybe I'll get lucky.

I realised this morning that I had extra eye drops, but I went out and got more since I had to go out to get money anyway. I'll keep the extra bottle here so in case I run out (doubtful) by the time I get back, I'll still have some here so I don't have to run out and do that when I get home and I'm exhausted. Now I feel like I have everything I need.

All I have to do now is straighten the apartment so it's not a disaster when I get home. Brian and Rebecca are coming Saturday and I get back late Friday night so I won't have any time in between to clean then.

I have plenty of time. I don't have to leave for the airport until 3:30. What will I do with all this extra time? Check my email and work stuff so I don't have any problems with not checking up on that for a few days. I doubt I'll do anything with work until I get to London. I'll also straighten the apartment and order lunch (I won't have anything to eat or drink when Brian and Rebecca get here but I'm sure they won't mind. It's not like there's not a hundred places around here to get stuff). And then I guess I'll just sit here and be hyper.

I can't believe everything fit so easily in my suitcase. I even had room for my little Time Out London magazine guide. I wish I didn't have to check my bag, but I'll be on an express flight from La Guardia to Phili and you can barely carry yourself on those planes let alone a bag. But that's okay since Neil won't be able to carry his on either (too heavy) so I'd have to wait for him to get his baggage anyway. So we'll both, hopefully, check our bags to London (no time to get them in Phili) and hopefully they'll both get to Gatwick when we arrive.

Well, I'll try to keep writing entries every day and I'll update them when I get home (while waiting for Brian and Rebecca to arrive- unless I'm still sleeping).

I decided to see what was playing in London (not that I have that much time for theatre). I'm pissed that "Chess" isn't opening until June 20. I still want to try to see "Noises Off" but Wednesday night's performance is sold out. So I'll either hope that I can go Tuesday night or go to the Wednesday matinee (although I really don't want to do that). I'll wait and see. I don't want to get a ticket for Tuesday night and then not be able to go.

Flight to Phili- crappy propeller plane that makes me sick. Sat next to huge, smelly guy. Left an hour late. While we were on the runway, the pilot came on and said that we were 41st in line for departure. Did he want to depress us? I'd never heard anything above 3rd in line for departure...

Flight to London- got upgraded to first class since they didn't give us seats next to each other- that was GREAT. Although, US Air first class isn't really that special. Sally, the flight attendent, was the bitch from hell. She was stomping through the cabin, yelling about some passengers (no idea what they did- every time I turned around to look at them, they were sleeping). She stormed by me with a magazine which she smacked against my arm- not on purpose, but didn't apoligise. During the safety video, 2 people behind me were whispering to each other. Sally went over to them and said, "Watch the video, this is our lives!" Whew- didn't want to get on her bad side. During the beginning of the flight, she was still complaining loudly to the other flight attendents about those passengers that did something horrible (I'd still like to know what they did). She said, "I'm going to have them in customs for hours, they'll be horrified." The rest of the flight was fine.

Short flight to Amsterdam on British Airways.

Figured out the train and tram to the hotel. Hotel de l'Europe- gorgeous!

After we checked in, we went to a little student cafe for dinner- cheap and fun. Walked around a little after dinner, and I went to a coffee shop and got high! Neil didn't join me- didn't expect him to. Then I bought him a dirty postcard so he could give it to his friend, Laurie (he didn't want to buy it himself). Then went to bed. Very tired and the pot helped me fall asleep!

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